The INDIA bloc – consisting of the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, the Congress, and the Rashtriya Janata Dal – has crossed the majority mark in the Assembly election in that state. The BJP took an early lead after the counting of votes began at 8 am, but Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s JMM, which expressed confidence it would form the government again, fought back slowly and steadily. At 10.30 am INDIA was ahead in 51 of the state’s 81 seats. The NDA was ahead in 29.